As Australians descend on Flemington Racecourse awaiting the start of the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday afternoon, animal rights groups are calling for a boycott of the event.
The $7.3 million race will bring the nation to a standstill, but several groups say the sport is marred by deaths and injuries of thoroughbred horses.
PETA Australia claims 119 horses died on Australian tracks between August 2017 and July 2018 - which is an average of nearly one every three days - and noted horses often suffer fatal injuries after the 3200-metre race.
In 2014, racehorse Admire Rakti collapsed in his stall following the race and died, while Araldo broke his right hind leg and had to be euthanised. Last year, Regal Monarch broke his right leg and had to be euthanised and Red Cadeaux suffered the same injury in 2015.
PETA Australia spokesperson Emily Rice told SBS News the majority of the nation is against animal cruelty and we are seeing more and more Australians boycott the event.
"We are seeing the more people are educated on what the problem is, the more people make up their own decision to not participate in Melbourne Cup sweeps and events," she said.
The Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Tuesday, November 7, 2017.
AAP
"I think there is beginning to be a lot more knowledge about the fact, 'you bet, they die'. If people don't place bets on these horses, which is literally gambling with their lives, these horses aren't flogged into an early grave.
"We are seeing more workplaces decide they are not going to formally acknowledge the Cup is on and we are seeing more people decide not to go to the race courses."
Ms Rice said horses' skin is so sensitive they need to brush away flies, but are nonetheless subject to whipping during the final 100 metres of the race.
"You essentially have an animal who can feel an insect land on its skin and brush it away. They are certainly as sensitive as humans," she said.
PETA spokesperson Emily Rice.
